SAN FRANCISCO (KBCS) — A pet owner was arrested Monday after his off-leash pit bull dog attacked a U.S. Park Police officer’s horse at Crissy Field.

According to National Park Service spokesmen Howard Levitt, the attack happened about 2:20 p.m. in the West Bluff area.

Levitt said the officer had asked the dog’s owner to take control of it but he failed to do so.

“The dog then paid its attention to the police force and lunged at the horse, biting the stomach and then locking on to the rear leg. The horse fell and the U.S. Park Police officer was thrown to the ground at that point,” he said.

The horse was eventually able to escape and run to the police stable but the dog gave chase. The attack ended when the horse kicked the canine and sent it running only to be captured by another officer at the scene.

The owner was arrested while arriving in the area where his dog was being detained.

Levitt said he was booked on various charges including failure to maintain control of a dog and assault on a police officer.

The dog was in the custody of Animal Control.

Levitt said the horse’s wounds were stitched and stapled but added that the injuries were non-life threatening.

“He should recover but he was pretty chewed up,” he said.

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